Our Lenten journey continues. Lent is a time for self-examination, penitence, self-denial, study, alms-giving, all in preparation for Easter. It lasts for forty days and forty nights reminding us of Jesus' time spent in the wilderness, being tested by Satan.

If you are unable to attend a service in one of the churches in the benefice in person, you are warmly invited to join in with our Rector, The Revd Mark Woodrow, in an act of Spiritual Communion from your own home, as he celebrates Holy Communion from the Vicarage.

The readings for today are Ezekiel 37:1-14, Romans 8:6-11, and John 11:1-45.

The hymns for today are, Come, people of the risen King, and, Jesu, lover of my soul.

A service booklet to accompany this weeks service is available to download below, alternatively please email [email protected] to be added to the weekly email list and receive a copy automatically.

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If you are unable to attend a service in person in church, you are invited to join our Rector, The Revd Mark Woodrow, as he celebrates Holy Communion from the Vicarage in Clare.

The readings for today are The Palm Gospel (Matthew 21:1-11) and The New Testament (Philippians 2:5-11).

In addition there is also the Passion Narrative from Matthew 27:11-54).

The hymns for today are - Ride on, ride on in majesty! and, Lift high the cross.

A service booklet to accompany this service is also available on the website (www.stourvalley.org.uk) or please email [email protected] to be added to the weekly email and receive a copy automatically.

Join us for our special Maundy Thursday service where we are reminded of the importance of humble Christian service expressed through Christ’s washing of his disciple’s feet, the institution of the Eucharist, and the perfection of Christ’s obedience through the agony of Gethsemane.

Join us for our special Good Friday’s service where our focus turns to the Cross. There is no celebration of the Eucharist, and churches are traditionally stripped of all decoration.

There can be no adequate way of recalling the death of the Son of God, other than silence and desolation.

Join Revd Mark in Poslingford Church, as he leads a short and reflective service of Compline (Night Prayer) to mark the end of Good Friday.

(Do wrap up warm!)

Come and join us in Clare Parish Church for Coffee, Cake and Chat!

Fair trade Coffee, Delicious Cakes, and a change to meet up with friends old and new.

No Charge - but Donations Welcome.

Children's activities also available.

From earliest times Christians have gathered through the night of Easter to recall the story of God’s saving work, from creation through to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. This service is meant to be a real experience of new life, a passing from darkness to light which offers hope to all the faithful.

The Easter Vigil marks the end of the emptiness of Holy Saturday, and leads into the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. The singing of the Exsultet, the ancient hymn of triumph and rejoicing, links the night of our Christian redemption to the Passover night of Israel’s redemption out of Egypt. Christian baptism is a participation in the death and resurrection of Christ. The Easter Vigil is a fitting time for all those who are already Christians to repeat with renewed commitment the promises of their own baptism. The Easter Gospel is proclaimed with all the joy and splendour that the church can find.

The Easter Eucharist follows immediately on from the Vigil. All the resources of the church – music, flowers, bells, colours – are used to celebrate Christ’s resurrection. The ‘Alleluia’, which has been silent throughout Lent, returns!

Join us for our Easter Afternoon Service

Everyone welcome!

Pre-School and Primary Children are invited to join us for a FREE Easter Celebration, with crafts, stories, singing, treasure hunt and refreshments!

Children please remember to bring a grown up with you!

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All are welcome to come along to St Mary the Virgin Church in Poslingford for some exciting games of bingo, together with some bangers to eat.

Bangers will be £1 (to offset costs)

You are encouraged to bring a tin/jar/packet for the Community Pantry, and then exchange it 1 to 1 for each Bingo Card.

Join us for a Summer Series of Coffee Concerts in Clare Parish Church performed by talented musicians.

Refreshments served from 11am. Concert begins at 11.30am and will run for approximately 45 minutes.

Admission is free with a retiring collection. After expenses, the remaining funds will support the work and fabric of the Church of St Peter & St Paul, Clare

Join us for a simple service of Evening Prayer.

Join us for our Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) when we take time to review the past year, elect our Church Wardens and PCC Members and give thanks for the life and ministry in this Parish.

(This event will begin immediately after the 11am Morning Service)

Join us for Cream Tea, Raffle, and Children's Crafts.

All profits to go to Church Funds

Bring vegetables or flowers seeds or plants to Exchange

Or simply come along and enjoy tea and cake.

Donations to the church or the community pantry welcome.

Join us for a Summer Series of Coffee Concerts in Clare Parish Church performed by talented musicians.

Refreshments served from 11am. Concert begins at 11.30am and will run for approximately 45 minutes.

Admission is free with a retiring collection. After expenses, the remaining funds will support the work and fabric of the Church of St Peter & St Paul, Clare

A fun afternoon community activity.

Bring your own beer (or soft drink) and a donation for the Community Pantry and enjoy a fun quiz!

Join us for a Summer Series of Coffee Concerts in Clare Parish Church performed by talented musicians.

Refreshments served from 11am. Concert begins at 11.30am and will run for approximately 45 minutes.

Admission is free with a retiring collection. After expenses, the remaining funds will support the work and fabric of the Church of St Peter & St Paul, Clare

Join us for a Summer Series of Coffee Concerts in Clare Parish Church performed by talented musicians.

Refreshments served from 11am. Concert begins at 11.30am and will run for approximately 45 minutes.

Admission is free with a retiring collection. After expenses, the remaining funds will support the work and fabric of the Church of St Peter & St Paul, Clare

Join us for another great community BBQ

Everyone Welcome

Our next Community Social Event will be on Saturday 8th August 2026 from 2pm where we will be making scarecrows!

Straw will be provided but please bring tights, outfits and lots of imagination!

Refreshments will be available.

Donations of tins and packets for the Community Pantry welcome.

Join us for a Summer Series of Coffee Concerts in Clare Parish Church performed by talented musicians.

Refreshments served from 11am. Concert begins at 11.30am and will run for approximately 45 minutes.

Admission is free with a retiring collection. After expenses, the remaining funds will support the work and fabric of the Church of St Peter & St Paul, Clare

Come and visit the church and enjoy the wonderful floral displays, from groups and individuals in the village.

Come and visit the church and enjoy the wonderful floral displays from groups and individuals in the village.

The annual Sponsored Ride and Stride is a national event, and every second Saturday in September cyclists, walkers and runners are out making money for their local county Churches Trust.

The idea started in Suffolk, and is now held across England, with Suffolk leading the table of funds raised. The Ride and Stride is the main source of income to Suffolk Historic Churches Trust to enable it to make grants to churches and chapels of all denominations towards repair and restoration costs.

Ride and Stride is run entirely by volunteers and is inter-denominational, with participants sponsored for each place of worship visited between 9.00am and 5.00pm on Ride and Stride Day or with a donation, regardless of the number of churches visited.

The money raised by each cyclist or walker is shared equally between the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust and the place of worship nominated by the participant.

As important as the participants are the many volunteers who give up the day to man the churches and chapels and sign in the cyclists and walkers as they arrive. Hundreds of places of worship are manned during the day and that takes quite a team of volunteers! It is a real community effort that is the lifeblood of the Trust.

Join us for a Summer Series of Coffee Concerts in Clare Parish Church performed by talented musicians.

Refreshments served from 11am. Concert begins at 11.30am and will run for approximately 45 minutes.

Admission is free with a retiring collection. After expenses, the remaining funds will support the work and fabric of the Church of St Peter & St Paul, Clare

The Poslingford Pumpkin event. 🎃

Tea, coffee and cake for those wishing to catch up with neighbours.

Donations to the Community Pantry are welcome.